Ellis names 24 USWNT players for Romania friendlies

USWNT head coach Jill Ellis has named the 24 players she will bring into camp for a pair of friendlies against Romania on November 10 and 13.

GOALKEEPERS (3): Adrianna Franch (Portland Thorns FC), Ashlyn Harris (Orlando Pride), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars)

DEFENDERS (8): Abby Dahlkemper (Western New York Flash), Jaelene Hinkle (Western New York Flash), Julie Johnston (Chicago Red Stars), Meghan Klingenberg (Portland Thorns FC), Ali Krieger (Washington Spirit), Kelley O'Hara (Sky Blue FC), Becky Sauerbrunn (FC Kansas City), Casey Short (Chicago Red Stars)

MIDFIELDERS (8): Morgan Brian (Houston Dash), Kristen Edmonds (Orlando Pride), Tobin Heath (Portland Thorns FC), Lindsey Horan (Portland Thorns FC), Allie Long (Portland Thorns FC), Samantha Mewis (Western New York Flash), Megan Rapinoe (Seattle Reign), Andi Sullivan (Stanford)

FORWARDS (5): Crystal Dunn (Washington Spirit), Alex Morgan (Orlando Pride), Kealia Ohai (Houston Dash), Christen Press (Chicago Red Stars), Lynn Williams (Western New York Flash)

Returning to camp are Julie Johnston, Meghan Klingenberg, Ali Krieger, Megan Rapinoe, Jaelene Hinkle, and Alex Morgan, and getting her first WNT callup at 29 is Kristen Edmonds. Adrianna Franch also returns to camp as the third goalkeeper, though she has a better shot of getting some time against Romania than she would have against Switzerland.

Players who got called in for October but won’t be returning for November are Jane Campbell, Arin Gilliland, Merritt Mathias, Emily Sonnett, Danielle Colaprico, Carli Lloyd, Shea Groom, and Ashley Hatch.

New players who got capped in October and are returning for this camp are Dahlkemper, Short, Sullivan, Williams, and Ohai.

Lloyd is taking the time to get married, so she’ll be out for these two games.

As for some of the players who weren’t called back in, it’s a shame the likes of Colaprico didn’t get a look in October. But at the same time, people probably shouldn’t read too much into these roster choices. These are friendlies against #36 ranked Romania, and there’s no major tournament coming up that would use these decisions as a signal for who will make the final cut. If you thought the United States had a fun time against Switzerland using a new formation and new players, wait until a veteran starting XI gets its teeth into Romania.

There’s also some good signs in the returning players, especially Sullivan and Williams. Sullivan showed promise and Williams was flat-out good in the series against Switzerland. Both of them are young, versatile players who would look good integrating into the roster for 2019, and should be expected on the final 18-player roster for each game.

United States vs. Romania:

Thursday, November 10, 10 PM ET, ESPN2, Avaya Stadium, San Jose, Calif.

Sunday, November 13, 9:30 PM ET, FS1, StubHub Center, Carson, Calif.